Pianissimo device.



PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907. G. F. REEPS & T. H. NOTT.

PIANISSIMO DEVICE.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. s. 1905 w LJ WITNESSES.-

I INVENTORS.

Charles ERee as m1 BY Tom HNoHT.

' ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. KEEPS AND TOM H. NOTT, OF NEWCASTLE, INDIANA.

PIANISSIMO DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES F. REEPs and TOM I-I. Nor'r, of Newcastle, county of Henry, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Pianissiirio Device; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like figures refer to like parts.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved action for upright pianos.

The full nature of our invention will be understood from. the accompanying drawings and the following description and claim s.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of an upright-piano action embodying our improvement and showing the position of the parts when the soft pedal is not in use. Fig. 2 is a sir-.iilar view with the soft pedal depressed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lever and its adjoining parts. Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevations of the abstract, lever, and wippen in the two positions with the wippen and abstract broken away.

10 represents the key of a piano-action, 11 is the abstract, 12 the wippen, 13 the jack, and 14 the hammer, all as usual.

15 is the hammer-rest rail, which is adapt ed to be raised by the depression of the soft pedal (not shown) through the lifter 46. When this rail alone is raised in the usual construction, it will cause a space to be opened between the jack 13 and the hammer-butt 18. Thus the action Will not respond promptly to the touch, and, furthermore, the key by being relieved at its rear end will be apt to drop somewhat in front, thus diminishing the length of the stroke. To overcome these objections, the action is provided with a pivoted member or lever 16, operated in the manner hereinafter specified, and which is tilted when the pedal is depressed to increase,

in efiect, the length or reach of the parts intervening between the key and hammer-butt. The lever 16 is fulcruried at 19 to the wippen 12, and its rear or free arm is connected by pivot 20 to the abstract 11. The forward end of the lever 16 is placed slightly above a longitudinal bar 21, extending through the piano and pivoted to fixed supports 22 by means of the arnfs 23. The bar 21 is suspended from the hammer-rail 15 by means of a rod or hanger 24, so as to be raised andlowered by the latter. The connection between rod 24 and bar 21 is shown to be effected by a pivoted clamp 47, while the connection between the rod 24 and rail 15 is shown to be effected by means of a clamp 25, into which the rod 24 is fastened. When the rail 15 is raised, it will by rod 24 draw the bar 21 up with it (see Fig. 2) and cause it to swing upon the pivots 27 of arms 23. If the rail 15 is lowered, the rod 24 will become unsupported, and thus the rod 24 and bar 21 will drop by their own weight as far as permitted by the pivoted clapnp 4'7, Fig. 1. As the bar 21 is suspended from the rail 15, any adjustment of the latter will cause a corresponding adjustment of the former. Should the relative position between the bar and rail require adjustment, this can readily be effected by the pivoted cla np 47, by which the length of the rod 24 may be altered.

The pivotal point of connection 19 between the lever 1.6 and the wippen 12 is arranged vertically over the pivotal point of connection 20 between said lever 16 and the abstract 11 when the soft pedal is operated and the lifter 46 and hammer rest rail 15 are actuated, as shown in Fig. 2. Then operation of the key 10 and abstract 11 would cause a direct transmission of power or motion through the lever 16 to the wippen 1.2 and the parts above it Without any lost motion or power whatever, because there is perfect alinement of the parts 11, 16, and 12 through their points of pivotal connection. Furthermore, the head of the lever 16 has a shoulder 30, that when the soft pedal is used bears directly against the felt 31, secured to the under side of the wippen.

When the soft pedal is not in use and the rod 21 is in its downward position, as shown in Fig. 1, the lever 1.6 is in an inclined position, which brings the other shoulder 32 of the head of the lever 16 in contact with saidfelt at a point in alinement with the abstract 11 and its pivot 20, so that the action on said abstract 11 will be communicated directly and in a straight line through the head of the lever 16 to the wippen.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a pianissimo device, the combination with a hammer, a movable hammer-rest rail, a key, a wippen, and a vertical abstract arranged to be actuated by said key and to operate said wippen, of a lever pivotally connected near one end with said wippen, and a bar movable with the hammer-rest rail for elevating and operating the other end of said lever, said abstract being pivoted to said lever at a point in vertical alinement with its pivotal connection with said wippen when said lever is in an actuated position 2. In a pianissimo device, the combination with a hammer, a movable hammer-rest rail, a key, a wippen, and a vertical abstract arranged to be actuated by said key and to operate said wippen, of a lever pivotally connected near oneend with said wippen, and a bar movable with the hammer-rest rail for elevating and operating the other end of said lever, said abstract being pivoted to said lever at a point in vertical alinement with its pivotal connection with said wippen when said lever is in an actuated position, and said lever being provided with a shoulder between its pivotal connection with said wippen and a-key, a wippen, and a vertical abstract arl ranged to be actuated by said key and to operate said wippen, of a lever pivotally connected near one end with said wippen, and a bar movable with the hammer-rest rail for elevating and operating the other end ofsaid lever, said abstract being pivoted to said lever at a point in vertical alinement with its pivotal connection with said wippen when said lever is in an actuated position, andsaid lever having a shoulder at its rear. end adapted to engage said wippen at a point substantially in alinement withthe abstract and its pivotal connection with said lever, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof we have hereunto afliXed our signatures in the presence of the Witnesses herein named.

, CHARLES F. REEPS. TOM H. NOTT.

Witnesses:

FRANK E. BEACH, SAM HAYNEWOOD. 

